Beaches: Gold Coast Beaches

"Touch footy anyone? Beach Cricket? Catch the frisbee!"

Just a wonderful beach for the family and holiday makers

Broadbeach

Kurrawa beach at Broadbeach is one of Australia's favourite Gold Coast's family beaches. It is a wide beach stretching for 2 kilometres and well spread out giving a feeling of space. It is a beach where one can erect an umbrella and families can enjoy. Kick the footy or play cricket or throw a Frisbee! Or just take in the sun, sunbathing on the clean whitish sand. The life saving areas or where the flags are positioned is usually reasonably wide.

Broadbeach has two patrolled areas both starting in October though to May, the volunteer lifesavers from both Kurrawa and Broadbeach Surf Clubs are on patrol weekly. The rest of the year, the Council professional lifeguards patrol via the beach towers. One of the patrolled flagged areas is directly in front of Kurrawa Surf Club.

Interestingly the Gold Coast City Council has a greater coverage of beaches that any other local authority in Australia. They utilise, boats, jet skis, helicopters and a number of watercraft for rescues.

The beach is exposed to the elements and can make the surf conditions unpredictable at Kurrawa. The Broadbeach grassed foreshore is also very popular as there is plenty of shaded positions for picnics or larger groups. There is playground equipment and plenty of free parking.

The beach has showers and toilets and BBQ's just off the sand, the Kurrawa Surf Club is right on the beach and across the road is the Oasis Shopping Centre, Broadbeach Mall and the shopping strip where food is available.

Broadbeach is without doubt one of the major beach destinations for holiday makers. The Beach enjoys a reputation as a safe swimming and is place that hosts a number Australia's surf life saving competitions.

Broadbeach is one of many stunning beaches in southern Queensland. The beach is open to the sea, very wide in fact it stretches for some 2 kilometres and faces east, the quality of good waves is lacking however there deep is gutter running parallel to the beach a few meters out, which from time to time assists in generating the bigger sets and better waves.

Burleigh Heads

Burleigh Heads Beach an all time family and board riders favourite Burleigh is very protected form the national park and it has a surf life saver patrolled swimming area. The beach has beautiful golden soft sand and it's clean, it is great for children and the board riders enjoy a point break that is out standing. The beach is one everyone can enjoy and have fun at.

The Beach is in a great picturesque position curving within the coastline set between the Burleigh headland and North Burleigh beach.

Children play in the sand and enjoy the breaking water. Swimmers and body surfers are able to move out into the surf and have a great time and enjoying clean conditions. There is something at Burleigh for everyone; board riders of all descriptions take full advantage of the constant steams of sets as they pure in form the point break, many taking to the water form the rocks rather that paddle out through the beach break. The beach is patrolled by the volunteer life savers from Burleigh Beach Surf Club and both Burleigh and North Burleigh beaches have the red and yellow flagged areas

Those visiting Burleigh will find plenty of parking, and a very easy stroll to the beach. Set your beach umbrella up under the pine trees on the foreshore or right on the sand. You will find heaps of picnic tables and seats, electric BBQs and playground equipment and the toilets are handy. For those that just wish to look, take the trek to the boardwalk-style viewing platforms on both sides of the beach.

Burleigh National Park offers a number of great walking tracks, they say the best is to head to the path around to Tallebudgera Creek where the waters are calmer. Another walk that is easy and genital is to follow the footpath north from Burleigh headland to North Burleigh it take about an hour, you could try Miami Hill if your fit enough! It is worth it for the uninterrupted views up and down the coastline.

A point of interest, the Burleigh Beach Surf Club is right behind Burleigh beach and you will find a kiosk which has hot and cold foods. Burleigh centre which has all the usual shops and services is right across the road but hold the kids hands.

Surfing Burleigh heads point break, when working the sets are reasonable spaced and known for how fast they are and the waves deep barrel rides and the point is capable of picking up some quite large swells. The spot is better suited to the more experienced surfers, beginners, should watch from the beach or headland rather than enter the water as the break can sometimes be violent, even the experienced need to be watchful when entering the water from the rocks. Burleigh heads offers the classic right-hand point break and attracts pro surfers from around the globe. International tournaments are held here often like the Quicksilver Pro Surf Tournament.

Main Beach Surfers Paradise

Main Beach is a little north of Surfers Paradise near a long sandbar that is known as the Spit (The Spit is a division between Broadwater and Ocean) and it is recognised as one of the Gold Coast's best family beaches. Interestingly the The Spit is where you will find the Sea World Theme Park and not far away is a great alfresco styled area with restaurants and cafes where you can are able to sit listen the sounds of live music.

One of the appealing aspects of Main Beach is that it is in a northerly location a bit away from the busy southern beaches and it has loads of space to spread out, making Main Beach a perfect place for those looking to relax and avoid the crowds.

Main Beach has a more gentle surf break making it ideal for swimming, sand castle building and maybe a little therapy. The beach is stretched wide is clean and has lovely white sand. The beach is surf lifer saver patrolled and a flagged area is set aside for safe swimming, plus you will find beach showers straight off the sand. For those wishing to picnic or BBQ there are shaded picnic tables, BBQs, hot water is available and playground equipment for kids. Limited free parking is available directly behind the beach and on the foreshore along the Esplanade.

Nothing is lacking at Main Beach. The historic Main Beach Pavilion is near by and has a kiosk with all manor of hot and cold food and drinks. You can hire a surf board and get surfing lessons. The building also houses toilets and change rooms. For those not wishing to get sand between there toes you could visit the Southport Surf Club which overlooks the beach.

The Spit Surf break is fairly consistent and a popular beach break that surfers frequent on weekends. The spot carries a swell and works well with an offshore North-east breeze. The sie of the waves varies from 2-3ft but will hold up to 2m but that's about all. The breakwall provides some wind protection from strong winds.

You will find both left and right rides but watch out for the pier, riders have been injured here. For those that are a little more adventurous you could paddle our to Stradbroke island to beat the crowd, just a little bit of work here it requires paddling across the busy Gold Coast Seaway and remember you have to come back!